TITLE:  The House on Foster Hill
AUTHOR:  Jamie Jo Wright
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: *****

Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide. 

A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives--including her own--are lost? 

The House on Foster Hill is a dark, haunting story that will hold you captive right to the end. Swinging back and forth between the early 1900s and present day, this tale reluctantly discloses its secrets through a tangled web of mystery.

We meet Ivy first, in 1906, as she assists her father in autopsies. No wonder the young woman is considered strange by her neighbors; after all, she not only works with the dead, she writes about them in her journal. Ivy holds her own secrets close to her heart, her grief for her brother mingling with anger and guilt. Why? You’ll have to keep reading the book.

Kaine, the present-day heroine, attempts to flee the danger forcing itself into her life in California by buying—sight unseen—the hulking Foster House in her family’s hometown. But instead of escaping, Kaine faces even more threats as she tries to unravel the mystery of the house she’s bought, and its ties to her own family.

In spite of the darkness of the mystery and threats, The House on Foster Hill contains sparkles of hope and determination. Both heroines are determined to solve the mysteries in spite of danger, and both learn to trust God in spite of terrible circumstances.
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This story will stay with me for a long time; it moved me and taught me. For these reasons, I give The House on Foster Hill five stars. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

TITLE:  50 Hours
AUTHOR:  Loree Lough
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, LLC
STARS:  *****
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Franco Allessi is a broken, lonely man who wants nothing more than to outrun the ghosts of his past. For years, he tries to numb the pain of his wife's death with cheap beer and whiskey. When he's convicted of drunk driving, the judge revokes his license for six months and orders him to serve fifty hours of community service. Franco chooses Savannah Falls Hospice for no reason other than it's walking distance from his dilapidated house trailer. On his first day on the job, he meets Aubrey Brewer, a woman whose time on earth is quickly ticking to a stop. Their unusual connection teaches powerful, life-changing lessons about friendship, acceptance, and the importance of appreciating that precious treasure called Life. 

50 Hours is not a romance, but it is definitely a love story. When Franco is ordered to complete fifty hours of community service, the nearby hospice house is a logical choice—close to home, since he’s lost his drivers licence, and he and his wife (deceased) used to own a landscaping business. When he meets Aubrey, he makes assumptions about her. After all, Savannah Falls is an exclusive, beautiful hospice. But her physical weakness compels him to protect her, and a friendship, albeit shaky, is begun.

This story was difficult for me to read, and I had to take breaks several times to calm my emotions. One of my closest friends is currently fighting stage 4 cancer, and I’ve lost several loved ones to that dread disease. Author Loree Lough’s personal journey with cancer is evident in her writing—so poignant, so real—hit hard, but the love growing between Franco and Aubrey pulled me back. Touches of humor sprinkled throughout the story lightened the load of impending grief and created even more realism. I loved the secondary characters, too, as Aubrey’s example of acceptance of death becomes a type of healing for them.

Faith is not clearly defined, but it is present and growing in all the main characters.  Love is the main theme of this story, the kind of love Jesus lived. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” (John 15:13) 50 Hours earns five stars, and I highly recommend it.

TITLE:  A Serendipity Christmas
AUTHOR:  JoAnn Durgin
DATE:  2017
STARS:  *****

The holiday season has rolled around once again, and the townspeople of quaint Serendipity, Pennsylvania, are preparing for their annual Christmas Challenge. This year, the funds raised from the various events and activities will benefit the continuing relief efforts in the aftermath of a brutal hurricane season.

Victoria (Tori) Harper agrees to participate in the more physically demanding sporting events of The Christmas Challenge alongside her brother, Donovan, on behalf of his HarperMorgan Advertising Agency. But why has Donovan invited the insufferable and irritatingly appealing Henry Adams to join their team? The man seems determined to drive her to distraction, but Tori’s not about to fall under the charms of a handsome man with a smooth line, even delivered with Henry’s irresistible British accent.

As the youngest attorney in town, Henry has grown to love little Serendipity, and especially his verbal sparring sessions with Victoria Harper in The Coffee Nook and elsewhere around town. She might call him a Snooty Scrooge, but he’s determined to win her heart. If he can’t win that personal challenge by the end of the holiday season, he might as well move on and accept a tempting job offer from a New York law firm.

The second in The Serendipity Christmas Series, following The Christmas Challenge (2016), join Henry as he seeks to win Tori’s love and they’re both reminded of how God is always faithful in His promises. A Serendipity Christmas celebrates the very best of the holiday season—love, faith, family, small-town charm, and the true miracles of the Christmas season.

Are you feeling stressed by the busyness of Christmas preparations? Why not take a break and visit the sweet town of Serendipity? You’ll meet some fabulous people like Tori and Henry, see wonderful Christmas decorations, and if you’re lucky, you may get involved in the Christmas challenge.

After reading last year’s Serendipity story, The Christmas Challenge, revisiting this sweet town felt like coming home. I can’t help but like a strong yet insecure heroine, and Tori (aka Victoria) fits the bill perfectly. Henry touched my heart with his sincere faith conflicting with his strained family relationships. And who can resist a British accent?

Realistic, charming people whose witty banter is an absolute delight, Henry and Tori kept me reading, smiling, and sometimes laughing out loud. Their supporting cast is great, too, making me want to visit Serendipity again and again.

A Serendipity Christmas is an enchanting story and a beautiful literary getaway which easily earns five stars. Don't miss it!